For many Berliners, too, 1 May is one of the most popular public holidays. The neighbourhoods are in bloom, the air is filled with the scent of spring, and the whole city is out and about. Parades, dance parties, electric car races and numerous other events turn the start of the merry month of May into a huge communal experience. The art world is also playing its part in the May festivities this weekend: Gallery Weekend kicks off its next round on Friday.
Tip 1: Explore Berlin’s art scene at Gallery Weekend
In addition to the city-wide Labour Day celebrations, there’s another reason to celebrate this weekend: Gallery Weekend kicks off on Friday for the 22nd time. At 66 venues, 50 galleries, alongside art museums and universities, will open their doors, offering three days of inspiring insights into the visual arts.
At the Neue Nationalgalerie and the Hamburger Bahnhof, you can get to know key figures from the art world and hear their perspectives at the GALLERY WEEKEND BERLIN TALKS. Those who wish to experience art on the go are invited to discover exciting and original works whilst strolling past the curated shop windows of KaDeWe.
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Where: Various venues across Berlin
Tip 2: Marvel at the many facets of paper at paper positions
Folding, cutting, crumpling, painting and transforming into papier-mâché: paper is not only one of the world’s oldest writing materials, but also an extremely versatile creative medium when not used for writing. The art fair paper positions Berlin is dedicated to the diversity of this leafy medium and is showcasing works from over 60 galleries at the former Tempelhof Airport.
Alongside paper installations, collages and drawings in the main exhibition, this year also features a special exhibition on ceramics. Ceramic Positions shines a spotlight on another material that is enjoying growing popularity among contemporary artists. You can look forward to exhibits spanning 2,500 years of art history.
When: Friday from 1 pm to 6 pm, Saturday from 11 am to 8 pm, Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm
Where: Former Tempelhof Airport, Platz der Luftbrücke 5, Tempelhof
Tip 3: Join Kiebich and Dutz on an adventure at the Schlossplatztheater
On Saturday, the Schlossplatztheater celebrates the premiere of its latest production, Kiebich and Dutz. The play aims to inspire visitors aged 8 and over to embark on adventures in the real world. Comics and books once played the role that screens fulfil today: they allow us to live in imaginary worlds – and in doing so, we easily forget the adventures that reality has in store.
This is also the case for Kiebich. He lives in a box filled with cushions, porridge and comics – in fact, he has everything he needs there. Yet his longing for connection and to discover real life first brings his friend Dutz into his world and eventually drives him out into the wider world one day.
When: Saturday at 7 pm
Where: Schlossplatztheater, Alt-Köpenick 31, Treptow-Köpenick
Six summer nights, great music and the unique setting of Gendarmenmarkt: Classic Open Air brings classical music, crossover and unforgettable live moments to the heart of Berlin.
Tip 4: Join the UNESCO World Heritage guided tour on Museum Island
In the middle of the River Spree lies one of Berlin’s most impressive cultural sites: Museum Island. If you want to do more than just catch a fleeting glimpse of this unique quarter, it’s high time for a tour of the five museum buildings. To mark the 200th anniversary of Museum Island, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999, an experienced guide will take you past the Pergamon Museum, the Old and New Museums, the Bode Museum and the Old National Gallery.
You’ll learn fascinating facts about their history, architecture and the collections housed here. After the roughly two-hour tour, the included day ticket also gives you access to all the museums – so you can admire these cultural gems from the inside at your leisure.
When: Saturday at 11 am
Where: Meeting point at the James Simon Gallery, Entrance Level 1, Bodestraße 1-3, Mitte
Tip 5: Visit James Nachtwey: Memoria at Fotografiska
Whilst numerous exhibitions are set to open this weekend as part of Gallery Weekend, others are drawing to a close. James Nachtwey: Memoria can be seen at Fotografiska until Sunday and turns the lens on one of the most influential photojournalists of our time. Since his first reportage on the unrest in Northern Ireland in 1981, Nachtwey has travelled the globe. His work depicts the unvarnished realities of poverty, humanitarian disasters and displacement – but also the unshakeable courage of people to enjoy life despite all adversity.
Make the most of Fotografiska’s extended evening opening hours. The adjoining bar, with its great atmosphere and unusual cocktails, is also well worth a visit after seeing the exhibition.
When: Friday to Sunday from 10 am to 11 pm
Where: Fotografiska Berlin, Oranienburger Straße 54, Mitte
Tip 6: Be there when the new Arsenal cinema opens its doors
Our next event is a real highlight simply because it only happens in Berlin once every thirty years on average: a new Arsenal cinema is opening at silent green. This makes it the third cinema launched by the Arsenal Film Institute in Berlin: the first Arsenal cinema opened its doors in Schöneberg in 1970, followed by another venue at Potsdamer Platz in 2000 – and now it’s Wedding’s turn in 2026.
The listed Westhalle at silent green provides the ideal venue for this. The grand opening will take place here on Sunday evening – featuring speeches and artistic performances by many interesting guests.
When: Sunday at 6 pm
Where: Arsenal cinema at silent green, Gerichtstraße 35, Wedding
Tip 7: Take a nostalgic boat trip on the Spree
The wood-panelled saloon boat Hemingway is not only a sight to behold, but also boasts an impressive 118 years under its belt. That makes it older than the Pergamon Museum, Wittenbergplatz underground station or the Radio Tower – and yet it’s still seaworthy. With its brand-new electric motor, it’s the perfect vessel for a nostalgic boat trip in the fresh May breeze: the Hemingway picks you up at the jetty in front of the Reichstag and takes you on a relaxing cruise along the Spree.
On the outward journey, you can listen to stories about the buildings along the riverbank via an audio guide. Many were built around the same time as the nostalgic ship itself. On the return journey, it falls silent – only the waves lapping against the bow.
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday at various departure times
Where: Paul-Löbe-Haus / Reichstag jetty, Otto-von-Bismarck-Allee 2, Mitte
Tickets for the boat tour on the Spree
Tip 8: Come to the May Festival at the ufaFabrik
The ufaFabrik is an unparalleled cultural project in Berlin. The community living on the site has been organising a wide range of social and cultural events as well as ecological pilot projects for decades – and has thus created its very own oasis. From the large summer stage and the children’s farm to the rainwater cistern and the neighbourhood centre, there is plenty to discover here.
The Maifest on Friday afternoon offers the perfect opportunity to do just that. On the site, you can look forward to concerts, food and drink, a children’s circus and many other community activities that bring the special magic of the ufaFabrik to life.
When: Friday from 2 pm
Where: ufaFabrik, Viktoriastraße 10-18, Tempelhof
Tip 9: Stroll through the Gardens of the World
Fancy a trip around the world but don’t have time to leave the city? Luckily, you can explore Bali, China, England, Italy, Japan, Korea, Brazil and many more countries right here in Berlin – at the Gardens of the World. This weekend, there’s a 90-minute tour of this elaborately and lovingly designed park, which showcases the horticultural art of various continents across its extensive grounds.
Especially now, in late spring, the park is at its most beautiful: with a bit of luck, this weekend you’ll still have the chance to see thousands of cherry trees in full bloom. Set off on a stroll around the world – enveloped in the scent of blossoms and the chirping of birds.
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 11 am
Where: Gardens of the World, Blumberger Damm 44, Marzahn
Tour of the Gardens of the World
Tip 10: Experience top speeds at the Hankook Berlin E-Prix 2026
Although no one has taken off from Tempelhofer Feld for a long time, the drivers at the Hankook Berlin E-Prix 2026 are getting pretty close – and all without any exhaust fumes. That’s because the GEN3 Evo is a fully electric racing car that accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 1.86 seconds and reaches speeds of up to 320 km/h.
Thrills are therefore guaranteed in the stands too. This special race day combines high speed with sustainability and is accompanied by a varied supporting programme: you can look forward to live music from Max Giesinger and ZAH1DE. There will be meet-and-greet sessions, international food and plenty of motorsport-themed entertainment.
When: Saturday and Sunday from 9 am
Where: Tempelhofer Feld, Tempelhofer Damm 1, Tempelhof
Tip 11: Celebrate Walpurgis Night at Magicum
The night before the May Festival is also firmly established in the cultural calendar. Some call it ‘Dancing into May’, whilst others know it as Walpurgis Night. Originally, 30 April was the feast day of Saint Walburga – but it soon became associated with wild witchcraft.
Many storytellers from centuries past set it on the Blocksberg in the Harz Mountains. To this day, Walpurgis Night features in countless spooky tales – and the Magicum in Berlin is the perfect place to listen to them. On Friday, the Museum of Magic will introduce you to the art of magic with a witch quiz, birth horoscopes and more.
When: Friday from 11am to 6pm
Where: Magicum Museum, Große Hamburger Straße 17, Mitte
